Water Consumption
Basics on the topic Water Consumption
Get an introduction to water consumption! The water we use every day is considered 'direct' water consumption, whether someone is brushing their teeth with it, drinking it, or cooking with it. The average person in the US consumes about thirty-three gallons of water each day. But, it's not just water from the sink that counts as water consumption. Water can be used indirectly as well.
Transcript Water Consumption
Right now, Uma is trying to make some tea. But, what happened to the water? She had a lot more she wanted to do with it today too! She planned to water her tomatoes and make a puddle to splash in! But, Uma! You can't do any of that! It's time to think about Water Consumption! The water you use every day is considered 'direct' water consumption, whether brushing your teeth, drinking water, or cooking with it. The average person in the US consumes about thirty-three gallons of water each day. That's a lot of water! But, it's not just water from your sink that counts as water consumption. Since Uma doesn't have any water coming from her faucet, she decides to go online shopping instead. She doesn't need water to buy a pair of jeans like these, does she? Did you know that we actually do need a lot of water for that!? Most of the water you use is not consumed where you live, but where the things you buy are produced. We call this 'virtual' water. It takes two hundred sixty-four gallons of water to grow two to three avocados. One cup of your teacher's coffee requires about thirty-five gallons of water to grow the coffee beans. To get two pounds of beef, one thousand, four hundred thirty gallons are used for the cow! And, a pair of Uma's jeans actually takes two thousand one hundred thirteen gallons to produce the cotton they are made from. Because of all this, we can each use up to two thousand gallons of virtual water each day. Is that bad? Not necessarily! There are places around the world where water is naturally found in large quantities. There, it is appropriate to consume more water. However, the cotton used for Uma's jeans is grown in hot, dry areas on large fields that need a lot of water. In order for cotton to grow there, groundwater or water from lakes is usually used. At some point, that water will run out. Then, people have to move away from the area and many plants and animals can no longer live there. But, we can prevent this by only using as much water as is replaced by precipitation! We call this acting sustainably. But, that is a long way off. At the moment, we, humans, are consuming more water than the earth can offer us in the long term. I wonder what Uma thinks of all of this? Well, she's a dog, so she doesn't need jeans. Since it's raining, she can even splash in her puddle without wasting any water. What about you? Write in the comments how you are saving water!
Water Consumption exercise
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What does the term 'direct' water consumption refer to?
HintsDirect water consumption includes everyday activities like drinking water, cooking, and personal hygiene.
It refers to the water you use directly in your home or workplace, typically sourced from taps or faucets.
SolutionDirect water consumption refers to the water consumed directly from the faucet.
Direct water consumption includes everyday activities like drinking water, cooking, and personal hygiene.
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How much water does the average person in the US consume each day?
HintsThis is the average amount of water consumed daily by an individual in the United States.
Consider all the ways we use water in our daily lives.
It's not just about drinking; think about activities like cooking, brushing teeth, and showering.
What unit do we measure milk in?
SolutionThe average person in the US consumes about 33 gallons of water each day.
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Where is the majority of the water you use actually utilized?
HintsFocus on the idea that your water consumption extends beyond your immediate location.
A pair of jeans takes two thousand, one hundred and thirteen gallons to produce the cotton they are made from.
It takes two hundred, sixty-four gallons of water to grow two to three avocados, which is about the same amount of water an average person uses during a ten-minute shower.
SolutionMost of the water you use is not consumed where you live, but in the production of goods like jeans.
We call this virtual water.
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Decide whether each example represents direct water consumption or virtual water consumption.
HintsDirect water consumption includes water used for drinking, cooking, bathing, and washing, while virtual water consumption refers to the hidden water used in the production of goods and services, such as agriculture, manufacturing, and energy generation.
Think about the immediate impact of water usage versus the hidden water costs associated with manufacturing processes.
SolutionDirect water consumption:
- drinking water from a water fountain
- water used in a backyard garden
- taking a shower for 10 minutes
- water used in the production of a phone
- water used to irrigate a cotton field
- water used in the manufacturing of paper
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What do we call the water we use every day?
HintsThink about activities you do every day involving water, like drinking or brushing your teeth.
The term refers to water used in everyday activities, rather than water usage hidden in production processes or virtual sources.
SolutionThe water we use every day for activities like drinking, cooking, and brushing our teeth is called direct consumption water.
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How does the concept of virtual water consumption extend beyond individual actions to impact global resource allocation, and what measures can individuals take to mitigate its effects on the environment?
HintsConsider the global implications of virtual water consumption, particularly in relation to trade.
Reflect on the role individuals can play in reducing their virtual water footprint through specific actions, such as supporting sustainable practices and choosing locally-produced goods.
SolutionVirtual water consumption influences global trade patterns, and individuals can reduce their virtual water footprint by supporting sustainable practices and consuming locally-produced goods.
